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Rehab Questions for New Clients

Frequently Asked Rehab Questions

If you are new to treatment, you may have rehab questions. Here we try to address the more common rehab questions we receive from prospective new clients.

HMO VS. PPO

HMOs are usually more affordable than PPO insurance plans but usually get less coverage and more restrictions than a PPO policy.
PPOs are usually more expensive and sometime require a deductible but your coverage is greater and have less restrictions than with a HMO insurance policy.

HMOs only gives you access to doctors and hospitals that are contracted (in network) with your insurance carrier. If you’re looking to get treatment outside of your network you will need a PPO insurance.


How Much Does Drug Rehab Cost?

It depends on the level and length of treatment you need. Drug Rehab can be expensive but if you have a good insurance policy it could pay for up to 100% of your rehab costs with no or very little out of pocket costs. There are also free rehab centers in some states www.freerehabcenters.org is a website that can help you find one and answer your rehab questions.


Does Insurance Cover Substance Abuse Treatment?

Yes, Depending on the type of insurance policy you have varying levels of substance abuse treatment are covered.
The affordable care act stipulates that insurance companies have to treat substance abuse like any medical issue that is covered by insurance.


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What is the CARA ACT?

8 things you should know about the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Act (CARA).

CARA- Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA).
CARA is a bill that will help substance abuse treatment centers battle opioid addiction smarter and better equipped.
The Senate and House have both overwhelmingly voted in favor of CARA. It is now on the president’s desk. If approved here is what you should know about the CARA act:

  • They’re expanding access to buprenorphine for opioid addiction.
  • Opioid treatment programs will have better access to drugs like naloxone which can save the life of someone overdosing.
  • More funding going towards state prescription drug monitoring programs.
  • Required learning and education programs for opioid prescribers.
  • Substance abuse programs in areas of high opioid use will get additional funds for evidence based medication such as naloxone.
  • Substance abuse programs will also get additional funding for pilot programs for the treatment of pregnant and postpartum women.
  • Additional grant money will be allocated towards integrated opioid abuse response initiatives and expanding availability of medication assisted treatment and behavioral therapy
  • Expansion of the VA opioid safety initiative which requires VA Prescribers to go through training on pain management and safe opioid prescribing.

What are the physical signs of substance abuse and/or addiction?

The physical signs vary depending on the person and type of substance be abused. For example someone abusing opiates might fall asleep often, have a slow heart rate and reduced respiration.


What is drug addiction?

Drug addiction is a very complex brain disease. Drug craving, seeking and use in the face of extreme life consequences characterizes drug addiction. Addiction can result from prolonged drug use and affects the person’s ability to exercise self control and other behaviors.


How do I know if someone is addicted to drugs and/or alcohol?

If you notice a person is compulsively seeking drugs in the face of negative consequences like losing their job, going into debt and losing family they probably are an addict. Most addicts will say that they can, ” do it on their own”. The statistics show that it is rare and often getting help is their best chance. Support from friends and family is crucial in getting addicts into treatment and for long term success.


Can you make someone go to rehab?

How to make someone go to rehab is a common rehab question among addicts’ families and friends. Families and friends must understand they can’t force someone to get help and go to rehab. The individual needing help must accept they have a problem and agree to seek help. Getting the individual into rehab is much easier once they have admitted they have a problem and that they need help. Getting them to admit they have a problem and need help is the hard part.
Interventions are one of the most effective strategies to get someone to admit they have a problem and need help. In an intervention, family and close friends gather together with the individual needing help and discuss how the individual’s addiction has affected their lives. Addicts are usually in denial and interventions help them realize how their addiction has affected their life and the lives around them. The goal of an intervention is to help the addict realize they need help and get them into an addiction treatment program.
Attend Al-Anon support groups to find out what has worked for other people. Al-Anon support groups are great resources for friends and families of addicts. In Al-Anon meetings families and friends get to hear from other people going through similar situations and learn how they addressed the problem. Al-Anon meetings are great for social support because it helps the people involved realize that there are many people going through the same problems they are.


What are the differences between inpatient and outpatient programs?

Inpatient treatment requires individuals to check into a controlled environment with 24/7 support and outpatient treatment is a type of therapy that requires the individuals to do group and individual therapy sessions but allows them to return home afterwards.
Most often individuals go through a residential inpatient program before being placed into an outpatient program but that isn’t always the case. Some individuals with less severe addictions can go straight to outpatient therapy.


How is substance abuse treated?

Addiction is a very complicated disease that affects brain function and behavior. No single treatment is right for everyone. It’s important that the individual has quick access to treatment and the treatment program addresses all of the patients needs, not just the substance abuse. It’s crucial the individual stays in treatment long enough and understands that the detox process is just the beginning of a complete substance abuse program. Counseling and behavior therapies are the most commonly used forms of substance abuse treatment. Constant monitoring of the individual’s substance intake is important, which is primarily done through regular drug testing. It’s important that substance abuse treatment plans are regularly reviewed and adjusted based on the individual’s needs.


 What is drug rehab like?

Every drug rehab is different, but most follow a standard framework of therapies. Residential inpatient treatment centers are structured and organized in ways to reduce stress and discomfort associated with getting sober.

Mornings in Rehab

Breakfast comes early and is usually followed up by meetings. Sometimes drug rehab centers have meditation and yoga classes in the morning to help you relax and start the day off right. These morning activities help you develop healthy habits that will translate to post-discharge life. Group therapy is usually scheduled after breakfast. In these group therapy sessions counselors focus on topics related to the treatment process, 12-step program, addiction, recovery, rehab questions, and what brought them to abuse drugs in the first place. These group therapy sessions will help you start to recognize patterns of behavior that you can change to avoid drug abuse in the future.


Afternoons in Rehab

Afternoons are spent usually doing one or all of the following:

-Individual behavior therapy sometimes called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. CBT is extremely effective in addiction recovery because it helps you understand your behavioral responses to specific triggers. Once these triggers are better understood the therapist will guide you toward new, healthier responses to those triggers.

-Group therapy. Group therapy is important because it establishes a sense of camaraderie amongst participants. Hearing other people’s struggles and triumphs help you gain perspective on your struggles.

-Specialized sessions for other problem areas in the individual’s life such as: anger management, stress management, grief counseling etc.

-Family therapy is crucial for long-term sobriety. Addiction affects the whole family and often culminates in destructive codependency, enabling behaviors and/or intense anger and resentment. It’s important that during these family therapy sessions feelings are addressed and the problems are resolved. This will ensure that the individual getting help has the necessary support needed from their family.

-Guest speakers. A lot of drug rehab centers bring in guest speakers who have been through addiction treatment to share their stories and answer rehab questions. These speakers have proven to be effective in giving hope to individuals struggling with addiction by telling their success stories and offering practical tips and encouragement


Free Time in Rehab

Usually there are a few hours of free time towards the end of the day. This time is for activities like swimming, exercise, ping pong, journaling, meditating, contemplating and reflecting.


Evenings in Rehab

After dinner there is usually a short meeting. Typically these meetings are 12-step program types that offer a safe and respectful environment in which long-term sobriety can be built.

Bedtime is at a reasonable hour because it helps establish healthy habits that will translate to post-discharge life.

Other supplemental therapy forms found in drug rehab centers are:

  • Art/Music therapy
  • Dance therapy
  • Biofeedback
  • Neurofeedback
  • Exercise programs
  • Equine therapy

Now that you have a better understanding of what a day in rehab is like, call one of our counselors to find a place to get treatment for yourself or a loved one.


What is substance abuse treatment?

Substance abuse treatment is a type of therapy for individuals who use drugs and/or alcohol to the detriment of themselves and others. Substance abuse treatment centers usually follow a standard framework of therapies that work by changing the behavior of the individual using the substance[s].


What happens after rehab?

What to do after rehab is an important question to ask. What you do after rehab has a direct effect on your success staying sober. It’s easy to fall back into old habits and relapse. Here are some tips and strategies you can use to continue your recovery and stay sober.


Aftercare planning

Most rehabs create a discharge plan for patients which answer rehab questions after leaving. The plan includes resources like: support groups, health care facilities and information on addiction recovery. It’s extremely important to have a plan and stick to it. Relapses are common, and it’s been proven having a plan gives you a better chance at staying sober!


Rehab Questions


Consider the living situation

Does the patient’s living situation make it easy for them to remain sober? Does the patient live with people who use drugs and or alcohol? Is the patient strong enough to remain sober around people who aren’t? All these are good rehab questions to ask when considering your living situation. Most rehabs recommend living in a structured living environment, like a sober living, after completing rehab. Sober livings are a great place to transition from rehab.


Expand sober social network

Get more sober friends. It is likely the patient’s friends have played a role in their addiction problem. Creating new relationships with people that are in recovery is crucial for long-term sobriety.


Join a support group like AA

AA or Alcoholics Anonymous is the most well-known support group, but there are thousands of types of support groups for just about anything you can think of. Joining a support group helps by giving the addict support and answering rehab questions when they need it most.


Stay on a schedule

During rehab patients get the chance to establish healthy habits like waking up early and sticking to a schedule. Don’t waste these healthy habits and fall back into bad habits. Sticking to a schedule helps you make sure you are doing everything necessary to remain healthy. Relapses often happen when people have nothing else planned. Don’t fall into this trap.  Stick to a schedule!


Work on improving your mental health

Addictions often co-occur with other mental health issues. During rehab you attend group and one-on-one therapy sessions that help you understand rehab questions and the mental health side of addiction treatment. Understanding how your mental health plays a role in your sobriety is important. After rehab it’s important to continue working on your mental health. You can attend therapy sessions, read books, practice cognitive behavioral therapy and many other things to better your mental health.


Exercising in recovery

Exercising regularly leads to a better life. People in recovery see tremendous results when implementing a exercise routine in their post-rehab life. Exercising makes you feel better about yourself and gives you confidence. Feeling better about yourself combined with more confidence helps you remain sober and healthy.


Helping others in recovery

Helping others is a great way to feel better about everything. If you’re feeling down, helping someone out with their own rehab questions often makes you feel better. Addiction is scary and there are a lot of people who need help. Don’t be afraid to volunteer and reach out to someone in need.


Be careful of friends from rehab

You can meet good friends and bad friends in rehab.  Be careful when choosing friends in rehab. Unfortunately, not all individuals who go to rehab choose to stay clean and sober. Just like your friends before rehab who helped shape the person you are, the friends you pick up in rehab will help shape the person you will become.


Look out for signs of relapsing

Relapses don’t just happen out of the blue. There are usually warning signs. It’s important to understand these signs/triggers that cause you to relapse so that you can avoid them or get the support you need before it’s too late.


Substance abuse treatment options

There are more substance abuse treatment options than ever before. In this article we’ll be going over a few options for substance abuse treatment. Keep in mind these are only a few options of the many that are out there. Please contact us to get more information


Long-term residential treatment

These types of programs usually last between 6 and 12 months. They are highly structured, and provide care 24 hours a day.
Long-term residential treatment programs focus on helping the individual answer rehab questions, develop social skills, accountability, and skills needed to live a life free of addiction.


Short-term residential treatment

Short-term residential programs usually last between 3 to 6 weeks. Once the short-term treatment is complete it’s followed up by outpatient therapy and support groups like AA/NA. Just like long-term residential treatment the goals are similar and there is 24/7 care.


Individualized drug counseling

Individualized drug counseling involves one-on-one therapy sessions with a licensed drug counselor. These therapy sessions focus on sobriety, abstaining from substance abuse, coping strategies, and equipping the individual with tools to prevent relapse.


Group counseling

Group counseling capitalizes on social reinforcement from peer discussions. Learning how other people have overcome their substance abuse issues often helps the individual getting treatment overcome his own problems.